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Revelation 14
Revelation 14:1
General Information:
The word "I" refers to John.
Connecting Statement:
John begins to describe the next part of his vision. There are 144,000 believers standing before the Lamb.
Lamb
A "lamb" is a young sheep. Here is it used symbolically to refer to Christ. See how you translated this in Revelation 5:6. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-symlanguage)
144,000
"one hundred forty-four thousand." See how you translated this in Revelation 7:4. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers)
who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "on whose foreheads the Lamb and his Father had written their names" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
his Father
This is an important title for God that describes the relationship between God and Jesus. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/guidelines-sonofgodprinciples)
Revelation 14:2
a voice from heaven
"a sound from heaven"
Revelation 14:3
They sang a new song
"The 144,000 people sang a new song." This explains what the sound was that John heard. Alternate translation: "That sound was a new song that they sang"
the four living creatures
"the four living beings" or "the four living things." See how you translated "living creature" in Revelation 4:6
elders
This refers to the twenty-four elders around the throne. See how you translated "elders" in Revelation 4:4.
No one could learn the song except for the 144,000
This double negative emphasizes that the 144,000 were unique. Alternate translation: "The only ones who could learn the song were the 144,000" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)
144,000
"one hundred forty-four thousand." See how you translated this in Revelation 7:4. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers)
Revelation 14:4
have not defiled themselves with women
Possible meanings are 1) "have never had immoral sexual relations with a woman" or 2) "have never had sexual relations with a woman." Defiling oneself with women may be a symbol of worshiping idols.
they have kept themselves sexually pure
Possible meanings are 1) "they have not had sexual relations with a woman who was not their wife" or 2) "they are virgins."
follow the Lamb wherever he goes
Doing what the Lamb does is spoken of as following him. Alternate translation: "they do whatever the Lamb does" or "they obey the Lamb" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
redeemed from among mankind as firstfruits
"Firstfruits" here is a metaphor for the first offering to be made to God in celebration of harvest. Alternate translation: "purchased out of the midst of the rest of mankind as a special celebration of salvation" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Revelation 14:5
No lie was found in their mouth
Their "mouth" refers to what they said." Alternate translation: "They never lied when they spoke" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Revelation 14:6
Connecting Statement:
John begins to describe the next part of his vision. This is the first of three angels who proclaim judgment on the earth.
every nation, tribe, language, and people
This means that people from every ethnic group are included. See how you translated a similar list in Revelation 5:9.
Revelation 14:7
the hour of his judgment has come
Here "the hour" represents the time that has been chosen for something, and the hour having "come" is a metaphor for now being the chosen time. The idea of "judgment" can be expressed with a verb. Alternate translation: "now is the time that God has chosen for judgment" or "it is now the time for God to judge people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
Revelation 14:8
Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great
The angel speaks of Babylon having been destroyed as if it had fallen. Alternate translation: "Babylon the great has been destroyed" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Babylon the great
"Babylon the large city" or "the important city of Babylon." This was probably a symbol for the city of Rome, which was large, wealthy, and sinful. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-symlanguage)
who persuaded
Babylon is spoken of as if it were a person, instead of a city filled with people. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
to drink the wine of her immoral passion
This is a symbol for participating in her sexually immoral passion. Alternate translation: "to be sexually immoral like her" or "to get drunk like her in sexual sin" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-symlanguage)
her immoral passion
Babylon is spoken of as if it were a prostitute who has caused other people to sin along with her. This may well have a double meaning: literal sexual immorality and also the worship of false gods. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Revelation 14:9
with a loud voice
"loudly"
Revelation 14:10
will also drink some of the wine of God's wrath
Drinking the wine of God's wrath is a symbol for being punished by God. Alternate translation: "will also drink some of the wine that represents God's wrath" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-symlanguage)
that has been poured undiluted
This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "that God has poured full strength" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
that has been poured undiluted
This means that the wine has no water mixed into it. It is strong, and a person who drinks much of it will get very drunk. As a symbol, it means that God will be extremely angry, not just a little angry. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-symlanguage)
cup of his anger
This symbolic cup holds the wine that represents God's anger. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-symlanguage)
Revelation 14:11
Connecting Statement:
The third angel continues to speak.
The smoke from their torment
The phrase "their torment" refers to the fire that torments them. Alternate translation: "The smoke from the fire that torments them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
they have no rest
"they have no relief" or "the torment does not stop"
Revelation 14:12
Here is a call for the patient endurance of God's holy people
"God's holy people must endure patiently and be faithful." See how you translated a similar phrase in Revelation 13:10.
Revelation 14:13
the dead who die
"those who die"
who die in the Lord
"who are united with the Lord when they die." This may refer to people who are killed by their enemies. Alternate translation: "who die because they are united to the Lord"
labors
difficulties and sufferings
their deeds will follow them
These deeds are spoken of as if they were alive and able to follow those who did them. Possible meanings are 1) "others will know the good deeds these people have done" or 2) "God will reward them for their deeds" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Revelation 14:14
Connecting Statement:
John begins to describe the next part of his vision. This part is about the Son of Man harvesting the earth. Harvesting the grain is a symbol of God's judging people. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-symlanguage)
one like a son of man
This expression describes a human figure, someone who looks human. See how you translated this in Revelation 1:13. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
golden crown
This was the likeness of a wreath of olive branches or laurel leaves, hammered out in gold. Examples actually made of leaves were given to victorious athletes to wear on their heads.
sickle
a tool with a curved blade used for cutting grass, grain, and vines (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-unknown)
Revelation 14:15
came out of the temple
"came out of the heavenly temple"
the time to reap has come
Existing in the present is spoken of as having come. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Revelation 14:16
the earth was harvested
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he harvested the earth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Revelation 14:17
Connecting Statement:
John continues describing his vision about the earth being harvested.
Revelation 14:18
who had authority over the fire
Here "authority over" refers to responsibility to tend the fire.
Revelation 14:19
harvested the grapevine of the earth ... threw it
John describes the earth as a grapevine full of ripe grapes that the angel is harvesting. The grapevine is a metonym for the grapes on the vine, and the grapes are a metaphor for the people of the earth. Alternate translation: "harvested the earth as if he were a person harvesting grapes ... threw the harvest" or "took away the people of the earth as if he were a person harvesting grapes ... threw them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
threw it
"threw the grapevine," a metonym for the harvest from the grapevine, or "threw the harvest from the grapevine" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
the great winepress of God's wrath
"the large winepress where God will show his wrath." A winepress is a large container in which people put grapes and then crush them to get the juice out. John is saying that the angel will take the people of the earth and put them where God will punish or destroy them because he is angry with them. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Revelation 14:20
winepress
This is "the great wine vat" of [Revelation 14:19] (./19.md).
up to the height of a horse's bridle
"as high as the bridle on a horse's head"
bridle
a device made of leather straps that goes around a horse's head and is used for directing the horse
1,600 stadia
"one thousand six hundred stadia" or "sixteen hundred stadia." A "stadium" is 185 meters. In modern measures this would be about "300 kilometers" or "200 miles." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers and rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-bdistance)